[LAC-Discuss] Propuesta

[Carlton Samuels]

Dear Sebastian:
The posting from Erick and you highlights one of the major challenges of
LACRALO – the matter of language.   In fact, the Spanish-only post
highlights what has happened to our Spanish-only speakers in most of ICANN’s
deliberations until quite recent; they were underserved and marginalised,
which affects their interest and capability to participate.  With regard to
LACRALO business, it also marginalizes, perhaps without the intent,
English-only speakers.   I can at least go along for a bit, with the help of
my daughter.  I'm very conscious that an English-only response from the
Secretariat may not reach all of the constituency you so eloquently
addressed.
 
Providing the tools for LACRALO participation is the responsibility of
ICANN.  And without a doubt, the At-Large staff has grown around us to the
task and from inception, worked very hard indeed to support us. Some support
initiatives - like the translated discussion list - have not met
expectations.  But I cannot but commend them on what has transpired so far.
Since July 2006, wikis, calendars and other work tools are now available to
the community where there were none before. The initiative to rationalize
the websites and provide even more channels and tools for self-expression is
evolving at this very moment and will be very useful to need for regional
self-expression. There is now even a policy position that allows linkages to
blogs from ICANN websites; Erick and you should find this development of
particular interest. What is clear is that what is considered the At-Large
community in LAC has expanded significantly from the 3 or so persons that
'represented' the region prior to 2007.  We know this is not a development
that has pleased all of us.  But without a doubt, progress is being made.
 
Yes, LACRALO should have a work agenda in regard to ICANN’s business. And it
does: that agenda is guided by ALAC's business.  And ALAC is the recognized
conduit for At-Large input to the ICANN policy-making process. ALAC's agenda
is a consensus agenda developed by way of a multi-channel process of
interactions. At its most discreet stage, LACRALO has the right and
capability to impact this agenda thru the input of our elected
representatives to ALAC; Carlos Dionisio Aguirre and Jose Ovidio
Salgueiro. If they are not going to become ‘loose cannons’ or 'seeing-eye
dogs', they need the input of *our community*.  Our community is the
constituent ALS of LAC and other interested parties that subscribe to the
MOU Principles we signed with ICANN.

Matters for discussion come to our attention by several routes: reports from
ALAC meetings provided by our ALAC representatives, staff reports on
particular issues, postings from individual members on matters of individual
interest that might become the group's interest. Every ALS in LACRALO has
the ability to influence the representation of the region in ALAC by
contributing to a consensus on any subject being discussed in ALAC by
participating in discussion on the electronic discussion list. 
Participation implies knowledge.  Or the means to acquire that knowledge.
You get that by reading widely and often, talking to others with more
knowledge than yourself. This is what the discussion list and links to web
pages is intended to do.  Yes, this may not be the *best* system for LAC
because of the twin burdens of our history and culture; we love the
face-to-face harangue and the cuadillo-style approach to leadership.   Only
6 or so of the 27 constituent ALS can be counted as ever participating in
discussions.  Bluntly speaking, it is not the business of the Secretariat to
gin up participation.  And I personally reject this malignant propensity to
be either a priest or caudillo to effect ‘voluntary’ participation.
 
We acknowledge that language support is a major expense in the conduct of
international business even as we are unanimous that this remains the
responsibility of ICANN.  I can assure you that this Secretariat does not
have resources to provide language support.

Despite the language support failings, I do not share your sense of loss. 
This work assumes a cadre of committed, well-read independent-thinking and
enthusiastic volunteers.  In other words, it is not intended to be an
organization of blind, uninformed volunteers led by a seeing-eye dog. 
Members *must* take the time to inform themselves of the issues under
discussion.  These issues are communicated, albeit with language challenges
to overcome.  It is for members to *decide* what is important and pass it
along to our ALAC representatives filtered thru the discussion list.   The
Secretariat cannot and may not impose our view on any matter on others. We
are equally certain we would reject any attempt by anyone to impose a view
on LACRALO to which the Secretariat objects or find repugnant to the
principles under which we operate. We want to see LACRALO evolve into a
community of equals that can contribute, each and everyone.  

The mechanisms to make change to any of structure is available and should be
known by now.  And if and when the community decides, then that will be time
enough.  
 
Kind regards,
Carlton


From: Sebastian Ricciardi [mailto:sricciardi at fibertel.com.ar] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:20 PM
To: lac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org
Cc: 'Carlton Samuels'; 'Nick Ashton-Hart'; kieren.mccarthy at icann.org
Subject: Propuesta

Estimados Miembros de la LAC-RALO:
 
Las organizaciones que suscriben la presente,  remiten el siguiente aporte
en relación  al funcionamiento de la LAC-RALO y  la gestión de diálogos para
formación de consensos en el seno de la misma, esperando que sean bien
recogidas, y contribuyan a generar una verdadera participación informada y
estructurada de los usuarios de Internet en el proceso de desarrollo de
políticas de ICANN.
 
1)      El mecanismo establecido del Secretariado  debe  ser fortalecido de
modo tal que sea un generador permanente de espacios de
dialogo (digitales/telefónicos/presenciales), y 
fortalezca la discusión, dentro de la  LAC-RALO, las ALSs y entre sus
integrantes, de las principales cuestiones que se debaten dentro de
ICANN.  Es necesario contar con un cronograma claro de asuntos para estudiar
y tratar, y establecer una serie de comunicaciones periódicas entre la
LACRALO y el ALAC, más allá de la buena voluntad y predisposición de quienes
han puesto su mejor empeño en cumplir con el mandato otorgado por la RALO.
 
En pos de estos objetivos, proponemos la siguiente línea de acción:
 
a. propuesta de tema de dialogo, que deberá  acompañarse de un resumen del
estado del arte del  tema, anexo de documentos relevantes, e indicaciones
acerca de donde obtener mayor información.
 
b. generación de dialogo a través de preguntas claves y encuestas, así como
apertura a diálogos temáticos especializados, quizás a través de grupos de
trabajo específicos.
 
c. establecimiento de un calendario de trabajo (inicio, fechas, fin)
 
d. presentación de resultados.
 
Esta dinámica no debería ser concatenada tema por tema,  sino que busca
llevarse en paralelo siguiendo las  pautas antes indicadas para ahorrar
tiempo y energía, entendiendo que tanto la labor del  Secretariado como la
de los diversos actores de las ALS se realiza en forma voluntaria.
 
De igual manera creemos que en un futuro a determinar, sería deseable  que
el Secretariado sea asumido por una institución o individuo que pueda
brindar la tarea permanente  de acercar la información a las ALS, tanto
en  ingles como en español sin que dependa de la  traducción automática de
instrumentos digitales.
 
Finalmente, sería deseable contar con reportes bimestrales por parte del
Secretariado, que sea útiles para hacer seguimiento a los temas
pendientes, temas en curso, prospectiva de nuevos temas, etc.

Cordialmente,
 
ISOC.Ar
Alfa Redi


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